Kutub Bilarabi is a literary circle that reads works by Arab authors that are mainly published in Arabic and for which an English translation is available. Arab authors that write in English may sometimes be considered. The reading group was formed in 2012 to promote an understanding of the Arabic culture and initiate a dialogue between Arab and non-Arab residents of Dubai. Kutub Bilarabi aims to
continue the works that Kutub at the Third Line started in 2007. Kutub Bilarabi seeks to support Arabic Literature and to challenge the local readership (both English and Arabic speakers) to consider a broad range of Arab writers as well as to hold critical cross-cultural conversations that help bring together diverse thought and stir challenging conversation. We read fiction literature that informs and challenges as well as entertains, including classics as well as modern works by new authors. Our readers range from the academic to the culturally interested – and everyone brings a sharp and open mind for conversation. The books we read are chosen on the following criteria:
• that they’re published in both Arabic and English (can be fiction or non-fiction)
• that they’re by Arab authors or authors representative of the Arab region
• crucially, that they are interesting, entertaining, enlightening and thus conducive to lively banter that crosses cultural boundaries and builds bridges
Kutub Bilarabi meets on the first Monday of every month at The Archive (http://thearchivedubai.tumblr.com/) from 7 pm – 9 pm. Our inaugural meeting is on Monday 5th March and we look forward to meeting many new faces as well as those previous Kutub members. The reading list for 2014 includes:
Monday 6 January 2014 The Attack by Yasmina Khadra (Algeria)
Monday 10 February 2014 Naphtalene by Alia Mamdouh (Iraq)
Monday 3 March 2014 City Without Palms by Tarek Eltayeb (Sudan / Egypt)
Monday 7 April 2014 Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood
by Fatema Mernissi (Morocco)
Monday 5 May 2014 The Trench by Abdul Rahman Munif (Saudi Arabia)
Monday 2 June 2014The Arch and the Butterfly by Mohammed Achaari (Morocco)
The reading list for 2013 includes:
Monday 3 June Throwing Sparks As Big As Castles (Saudi Arabia)
Monday 6 May Of Noble Origins: A Modern Palestinian by Sahar Khalifeh (Palestine)
Monday 1 April In Praise of Hatred by Khaled Khalifa (Syria)
Monday 4 March The To***co Keeper by Ali Bader (Iraq)
Monday 4 February Azazeel by Youssef Ziedan (Egypt)
Monday 7 January Autumn Equinox by Jabbour Douaihy (Lebanon)
The reading list for 2012 includes:
Monday 10 December Cities of Salt by Abd Al-Rahman Munif (Saudi Arabia)
* December meeting scheduled to SECOND week of Dec due to National Day celebrations
Monday 5 November Disciples of Passion by Hoda Barakat (Lebanon)
Monday 1 October Sarmada by Fadi Azzam (Syria)
Monday 3 September The Scents of Marie-Claire: A Modern Arabic Novel by Habib Selmi (Tunisia)
Monday, 6 August: [Ramadan] Gold Dust (2010) by Ibrahim Al-Koni (Libya) *RUNNER-UP Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation
Monday 2 July: Nothing to Lose but Your Life : An 18-hour Journey with Murad (2012) by Suad Amiry (Palestine)
Monday, 4 June: Morning and Evening Talk (1987) by Naguib Mahfouz (Egypt)
Monday, 7 May: The Art of Forgetting (2012) by Ahlam Mosteghanemi (Algeria)
Monday, 2 April: Year of the Elephant: A Moroccan Woman’s Journey Toward Independence (1989) by Leila Abouzeid (Morocco)
Monday, 5 March: The American Granddaughter (2010) by Inaam Kachachi (Iraq)
